Metal filing cabinet



May 1932- c. A. JOHNSON METAL FILING CABINET Filed April 18, 1931 CARL AJoHNaoru Hi3 6M Patented May 10, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL A. JOHNSON, OF CELORON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ART METAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF J'AMESTOWN, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW'YORK METAL FILING CABINET Application filed April 18,

This invention relates to an improvement in metal filing cases and more particularly to transfer case units adapted for stacking.

The preferred embodiment of this invention discloses a metal filing or transfer case comprised of one or more units. The structure of each unit is such as to permit stacking for the purpose of increasing the size of a filing case as needed. The units are so constructed that one may be superposed upon an other, the superposed unit being prevented from both lateral and vertical displacement relative to the unit on which it is mounted. This interengagement is bad through the top and bottom walls of adjacent units and is sufficiently rugged to permit stacking a large number of units.

The principal object of the invention lies in the provision of a transfer case unithav ing interengaging means by which to prevent lateral displacement of one unit relative to a superposed unit.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a transfer case unit, an interlocking structure by which two or more units may be interengaged to prevent vertical displacement of one unit relative to another.

, A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a transfer case unit having closed, side and rear walls, the lower edges of which terminate in flanges which define a base opening adapted to receive the raised portion of the next adjacent unit therebeneath. I

Other and further objects of the invention may be more clearly understood from a consideration of the following specification which is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a transfer case embodying one form of this invention, showin two units, base and a top prior to assemb y;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of two assembled units, parts being broken away to disclose certain details of construction;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and discloses the method of interengaging one unit with another; and

1931. Serial No. 531,025.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view disclosingfurther details of the invention, being taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fi ure 3.

eferring to the drawings, the invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, is comprised of a plurality of case units 11. Each unit is formed with side walls 12, rear wall 13 and top wall 14. Each side wall is terminated along the top and bottom by horizontal flanges 16 and along its forward edge by a flange 17. The rear edge of the side wall is formed with a flange 18 which overlaps and is secured in any suitable manner, as by welding, to the vertical edges of the rear wall 13.

The rear wall terminates along its upper I to facilitate welding or other suitable engagement. The bottom edge of the rear wall is terminated by a flange 21 which is formed to provide a wedge shaped shoulder 22 and an adjacent pocket 23. The purpose of this structure will be more clearly brought out in connection with a description of the assembly or stacking of two or more units.

The top wall l tis formed with a raised portion 25 which is defined by vertical walls 26 terminating in horizontal flanges 27. The raised portion 25 is so proportioned as to permit mounting between the upper horizontal flanges 16 of the side walls 12. When the top wall 14 is located flanges 27 thereof engage the under faces of flanges 16, being welded or otherwise suitably joined thereto. The forward flange 28 lies in the same plane with the flanges 16 and effects a marginal spacing of the raised portion from the front and sides of the unit. The rear edge of the raised portion terminates in a wall 29, the angle of which corresponds to the angle of the shoulder 22 formed in the flange 21 of the rear wall. The wall 29 continues in a horizontal flange 30 which engages the under face of the flange 20 of the rear wall, being welded or otherwise suitably joined thereto.

each unit is formed along the base with awedge shaped shoulder and pocket and along the top with a corresponding undercut wall and recess, the purpose being to interengage a superposed unit with the unit therebeneath to prevent both lateral and vertical displacement of the superposed unit. T he bottom flanges 16 of the side walls and the flange 21 of the rear wall form three sides of a base wall opening 31 in the unit. The raised portion of the top wall 14 of one unit is adapted to fit snugly into the opening 31 of a superposed unit, the rear wall 29 projecting into the pocket 23 of said superposed unit.

The forward edge of the base wall opening 31, as well as the bottom edge of the drawer opening 32, is defined by a rail 33. This rail is formed from a channel strip, the base wall 34 of which is formed with suitable openings 35 in which are mounted rollers 36. Engaged with the forward edges of the side and top walls 12 and 14 is a reinforcing stra 37. This strap is partially enclosed by the ront flanges 17 of the side walls 12. The forward flange 28 of the top wall is also secured to this strap. The ends of the strap are terminated by horizontal flanges 38 which proect upwardly into engagement with the channel rail 33, being secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by welding. Inasmuch as the strap 37 is engaged with the side and top walls, as well as the rail 33, the drawer opening is provided with sufficient rigidity to withstand the weight of any number of superposed units. s

Centrally of the channel rail 33, an opening 40 is provided. Another opening 41, concentric with the opening 40, is made in the raised portion 25. \Vhen two units are fitted together, a bolt 43 is mounted in the opening 40 of the superposed unit, being projected downwardly through the opening 41 of the raised portion of the unit therebeneath and held in place by a nut 44.- Attention is directed to the fact that when one unit is superposed on another, the raised portion 25 of the lower unit lies within the base wall opening of the superposed unit, thus preventing relative lateral displacement of said units. Furthermore, since the wall 29 of the raised portion of the lower unit interengage's the shoulder 22 of the superposed unit, the rear of said superposed unit cannot be vertically dislodged from the unit therebeneath. To separate the units, the superposed unit must be moved rearwardly. To prevent inadvertent rearward movement of the superposed unit and the consequent disengagement from the unit therebeneath is the purpose of the bolt 43.

Drawer guides 45, having flanges 46, are joined to the inner face of the side walls 12. These guides are formed with horizontal portions 47 which extend inwardly to provide a full length support for a drawer 48 within the unit. The forward ends of the guides terminate adjacent the rollers 36. The drawer 48 is of standard construction, being provided with marginal longitudinally extending base portions 49 with which to contactthe rollers 36 and guides 45.

The lowermost unit may be mounted on a base 49 formed with a raised central portion and an undercut rear wall similar to the top wall described in connection with each of the units. The top unit may be fitted with a cover 50 having flanges which define an opening in which to receive the top wall 14 of said top unit. Inasmuch as the base 49 and top 50 form no part of the invent-ion, no further reference thereto is made.

It will be-understood that through the provision of a filing or transfer case developed in accordance with the above description permits the use of units which, while inexpensive, are of suliicient strength and rigidity to meet all requirements. In this connection it will be noted that each superposed unit is supported on the unit therebeneath on .1 marginal portion which extends on all four sides thus distributing the weight of the superposed units so as to eliminate the necessity of additional support.

\Vhile applicant has shown and described but one modification of his invention, he does not intend to be limited thereto since it is obvious to those skilled in the art that other modifications or adaptations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope o the invention other than as set forth in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. A. filing ease unit comprising a body having closed side, top and rear walls, a strap in said body mounted adjacent the forward edges and secured to certain of said walls, a rail connecting the forward lower edges of said side walls, and flanges terminating the ends of said strap, said flanges being mounted in and engaged with said rail whereby to reinforce the drawer opening of said unit.

2. A filing case unit comprising a body having closed side, top and rear walls, flanges terminating the lower edges of said side and rear walls, a rail connecting the forward lower edges of said side walls, said flanges and said rail forming a base wall opening engageable with the unit therebeneath, a strap mounted adjacent the forward edges and secured to certain of said walls, and flanges terminating the ends of said strap, said flanges being mounted in and secured to said rail whereby to reinforce the drawer opening of said unit.

3. In a transfer case unit, a body having closed side, top and rear walls, a raised portion formed in said top wall, said portion having an undercut rear edge, flanges termineting said side and rear walls, a rail connecting the forward lower edges of said side walls, said flanges and said rail forming a base wall opening, a strap secured to the 5 forward edges of said side and to walls, flanges terminating the ends of sai straps, said flanges being secured to said rail to remforce a drawer opening, and a pocket formed in said rear wall flange, said raised portion m and said undercut edge being engageable with the flanges of the side and rear walls of a superposed unit whereby to prevent both lateral and vertical displacement of said superposed unit.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature. CARL A. JOHNSON. 

